Page 65 of Fire Touched

Carter blanches. ‘S—slave traders?’

It’s dawning on me that my world is bigger and more vast than I had previously imagined. My only experience of the Water wolves was confined to one building, the estate—where I was confined to one room. I know nothing of their lands, the rest of their people. Apparently, neither does Carter, once the heir to its throne.

Carter himself looks like he’s about to paint the table with the soup he’s eaten. ‘Where—who—how…?’

Ella’s sitting straight, her shoulders stiff. ‘Did you really not know?’

‘No! Of course I didn’t!’ Carter claps a hand over his mouth and sits back from the table.

Only the roaring of the wind and rain fill the room, lashing loudly against the windows. After a moment, Carter’s chair screeches back as he gets quickly to his feet and disappears.

I bite my bottom lip. ‘I’m so sorry—’ My gaze darts between them, landing on Ella.

Ella shakes her head, still stiff. ‘Not your fault.’

I stare out the window. ‘It’s not his, either, you know.’

A pause. ‘It’s hard to believe he had no idea what was happening in his own home, his whole life.’

‘You thought he knew, and didn’t care?’

Ella stirs her soup without eating it. ‘I guess I thought he knew, but he couldn’t do anything about it.’

‘How is this different?’

Ella sighs. ‘I guess… he was ignorant. About a lot.’

‘That’s not his fault,’ I repeat, more gently. I don’t want to overstep. I know zilch about being sold as a kid, I’m not going to tell her how to feel about this.

Ella softens. ‘No, I suppose it isn’t. He escaped with me. I know.’ She gets to her feet. ‘I should talk to him.’

‘Hey, Ella? If you… I won’t pester you about things unless you bring them up. I’m sorry I pried. About you and Carter, and about this.’

Ella smiles softly. ‘Katie, you asked how I learned to cook. I’d hardly call that prying. As for the former, maybe I’ll talk to you when I’m ready?’

‘Of course.’ I get to my feet to help clear the table, letting her find Carter. This storm really isn’t letting up. If it keeps going like this, there’s no way Killian and I will be having a beach-themed dinner. I wonder where he is, anyway. Probably in Verron’s office trying to convince him to agree to an alliance these people aren’t ready for.

My thoughts keep turning, from Killian and the people of Terran, back to Elga and her strange behaviour today. After cleaning up in the kitchen, I lean against one of the benches. Holy shit. One of my friends was sold as a kid. And I thought I had issues with my family. My mother leaving, my dad telling me she’d died, and my stepmother drinking like a fish, then finding out I was half-witch, just doesn’t quite compare to being sold.

I feel like an asshole for poking at Ella’s business, despite what she said. I guess I’m used to Moira just telling me things, so I didn’t expect it to be different with Ella. I’m a jerk.

I’m starting to realise that having more friends than I know what to do with comes with their pasts, and a whole lot about them I still don’t know. Like Elijah. Killian filled me in on the history lesson he’d given the rest of them while Ella and I were at the town centre yesterday. Elijah’s mother was killed when he was a baby. No wonder they don’t love strangers, even though almost everyone has been really nice, I definitely don’t want to push our welcome.

Feeling overwhelmed and unsettled, I sit on the couch and huddle under a blanket, my mind spinning.

After a while, I kneel in the corner of the room and set up the fire, starting to shiver from the cold. So much for Terran having always-perfect weather. It’s finally turning on us. I set up the kindling in the hearth then add a few larger logs. I open my palm, a small, satisfied smirk playing on my lips as I summon my fire power.

The flames spring easily to my palm now, flickering and bright. Warm. I sigh, wishing I’d managed to unlock this power years ago. I set the kindling alight, watching the flames lick upward toward the larger logs, dousing my own fire.

I sit back, watching the fire gnaw through each bit of wood. I could fall asleep here, I think, tempted to grab the blanket from the couch. A noise sounds. I blink, watching the rain pour down. Wow, it’s getting louder. Perhaps it will hail?

This time, the same noise sounds, but louder. I sit up. That… didn’t sound like rain. I frown, getting to my feet. ‘Ella? Carter?’ If they’re having loud sex and I burst in on them, I’ll never be able to unsee that. I tiptoe around the lounge, past the kitchen. Maybe it’s Moira and Elijah getting home.

There’s a slow, creaking sound.

I take several steps back. I round the corner, hoping to be able to slip upstairs. My heart thumps loudly. Something is wrong. I don’t dare call out to Ella and Carter again. I don’t think I could if I tried, my throat tightening.

A man rounds the corner. ‘I didn’t expect you would leave the door open for me. Thanks.’ He takes a step further into the room, dripping wet.

---